Fourth graders from Polk Central Elementary recently stepped into local history at Alexander’s Ford, part of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail.
Students learned about the Overmountain Men and the role Patriot militia members played during the American Revolution, hearing the story at the same Green River crossing where hundreds of soldiers camped during their journey toward the Battle of Kings Mountain.
Alexander’s Ford later became known as the militia’s final full encampment before the battle. The Patriots crossed the Green River there before continuing their march.
Today, the historic site is part of the Bradley Nature Preserve at Alexander’s Ford, a 162-acre property in Polk County protected for its natural and historical significance.
For Polk Central students, the visit offered something a textbook cannot quite provide: the opportunity to learn the story while standing in the landscape where part of it unfolded.
